Matthew 2
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Matthew 2:1-2, After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
We don’t really know much about the magi who come seeking Jesus from eastern lands. Some translations call them wise men or kings. Matthew doesn’t include a lot of details. We have no idea how many there actually were (despite the popular carol, Scripture does not say there were just three of them).
Like the shepherds, the magi seem an unlikely group to seek out and worship Jesus. Magi at that time were often thought to be sorcerers or astrologers; that means they were pagans. They were also men of wealth. They were foreign. Basically, they were not Jewish. And yet, they go to a lot of trouble to find, to worship, and to adore King Jesus.
What can we make of this? It seems clear that God’s faithful, those who are called to seek and worship the Christ, are a vast and varied group. This group includes the poor and humble shepherds as well as the wealthy, mysterious magi.
But probably the most important question for all of us today --- does it include you?
When is the last time you have truly adored King Jesus?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, You are worthy of all glory and praise. Help us take time to adore you today, right now. Sometimes I feel like we spend a lot more time adoring ourselves than you. Forgive us, Jesus. Help us seek you, worship you, follow you, adore you, and obey you. More of you and less of me. Amen.
Matthew 1
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Matthew 1:17, Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.
While we may sometimes have a tendency to skip over genealogies, this one in Matthew 1 is truly significant. First, we can see the connection between the Old Testament and the birth of Jesus. As we read through the names on the list, we get a picture of God’s history of redemption for his people. Abraham and David are highlights, as both were recipients of God’s promises for the people of Israel, significant parts of redemptive history.
Another reason I love this genealogy is that five women are specifically mentioned. This was at a time when women were basically never mentioned in the history of patriarchal societies. And here we are, five very unique and interesting women – Tamar (who was quite tricky to achieve her purpose), Rahab (at one point a prostitute), Ruth (a Moabite), Uriah’s wife (Bathsheba), and Mary. The first four women were Gentiles or married to Gentiles, they were outsiders to a certain extent, and yet they had tenacious faith, the kind that would be critical for faith in Jesus. This focus on Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba leads to the introduction of Mary. It’s like the author is saying, “Don’t discount Mary!” She may not be who you would expect to be the mother of the Savior of the world but God uses all kinds of people! God lifts up all kinds of women, those who are proper and those who aren’t. What a beautiful reminder that the Gospel is for ALL.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Thank you for the incarnation. Thank you for becoming one of us as a way of demonstrating your amazing love. May we have the tenacious faith of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. We love you, Amen.
Ezra 10
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Ezra 10:10-11, Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt. Now honor] the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.”
The people truly loved and respected Ezra and when they see how distraught he is, they also become distraught. Ezra really doesn’t have to force the people to acknowledge their wrongdoing. They know their guilt before God is significant. They have intermarried with people who worship other gods. They have broken God’s law and they know it. Now what is to be done?
Ezra as the leader guides the people but doesn’t force them into any specific solution. It is the people themselves who decide that the foreign wives and their children should be banned from their fellowship. This is a hard one for me. Presumably, some of these are innocents. It wasn’t their fault that their father decided to marry a foreign woman. And yet, they would be sent away. Sin always has consequences.
I think that is a hard lesson for us. Sin always has consequences. Sometimes, the consequences are more severe than others. In our case, we can receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ and be reconciled to God but that doesn’t remove the consequences for ourselves and others. Sin always has consequences.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We long for holiness and we are so far from it. Help us. More of you and less of me. Amen
Ezra 9
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Ezra 9:1-4, After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.”
When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled. Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice.
One interesting thing about Ezra is that he was a leader who invested in his people. He didn’t just tell the people what to do, he actually taught the people Scripture and how to interpret it. As a result, the people are now recognizing that what is going on among them is wrong. They see how the Jewish people are out of alignment with God’s law and they decide to bring their concerns to Ezra. What’s the issue? Well, the people of God have been intermarrying with all the pagan nations and cultures around them. They have given their daughters in marriage to Canaanites and Hittites. They have accepted Moabite and Amorite men as husbands for their daughters. God asked them to be a holy, set-apart people and they have done anything but.
There are certainly instances in the Old Testament when Jewish people have married foreigners (think Ruth the Moabite) and things have turned out well. But in those cases, the foreign spouse became dedicated to the one true God. In other instances, when things didn’t turn out so well (think Solomon and all his wives), it was because the spouses remained pagan and brought their pagan gods into the home. It is hard to be holy and set apart when pagan influences are at your kitchen table and in your bedroom.
As believers in Jesus, we are also to be set apart people. That doesn’t mean we isolate ourselves from the world, but rather we live differently. Our values are different than the world’s values. Our lifestyle should be different from the world’s lifestyle. When it comes to marriage, the New Testament also implores believers to marry other believers. It isn’t a command but it makes sense. When a person of one worldview covenants with the person of a totally different worldview, it can be really, really hard. When one spouse is committed to Jesus and the other isn’t, there will be value clashes.
Think about your own relationships, maybe your marriage. How might your pray for those closest to you in regard to faith? We know that God isn’t done with anyone yet. What relationship is heavy on your heart right now? Take a moment and pray.
Lord, hear our prayers…Amen.
Ezra 8
2022 SOAP 08/26/2022
EZRA Chapter 8
Hi, I’m Bill Dines one of God’s certified lay ministers at New Hope UMC Brandon, FL. The Scripture reading for today is Chapter 8 of the Book of EZRA. I encourage you to read the entire Chapter but we will focus mainly of verse 8:21-23 with emphasis on EZRA 8:15
SCRIPTURE:
EZRA 8:21-23 There by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children and our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for solders and horseman to protect us from our enemies on the way because we had told the King, “The gracious hand of God is on everyone who looks to Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.” So, we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered us.
OBSERVATION:
Ezra has assembled the people (approximately 50,000) for the final preparation to travel a 3 ½ month journey around the fertile crescent ( it would be like walking from Tampa to Galveston Texas). When Ezra noticed 2 things which were missing that needed to be addressed.
1. No Levites; in verse 15, it was important because in the Torah, the Levite’s were to transport the articles of the Synagogue
2. The need to fast and pray for God to protect and guide them on their journey
APPLICATION:
To some people do not see these as very important, but they are actually a couple of the Spiritual Principles contained within the Bible, which apply to us today, to all generations.
The 1st is for us to make sure we are aligning our lives with the Bible, God’s word and truths within our hearts and lives.
The 2nd is the need for us to humble ourselves before God in prayer and supplication, assuring that we are walking in the ways of God and following God directives in our lives.
Like Ezra observing what is needed for a journey, we always need to check that we are walking in the ways and truths of God’s Word and listening to God’s promptings in our lives. This helps us to know that God is there for us, guiding, directing, protecting us to live the best life we can live, a life of abiding in Christ.
PRAYER:
Lord, instill within our hearts the grace and truth of Your word, and a strong desire for Your ways; and give us an assurance of Your steadfast love surrounding us. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen
Thank You and God Bless,
William (Bill) R. Dines
Ezra 7
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Ezra 7:25-26, And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.
This chapter begins with a long genealogy of Ezra. While Ezra was not a high priest, he was from the priestly line and the author finds it important to show this. Ezra himself came to Jerusalem from Babylon. What’s interesting to me here is that the Scripture clearly says that Ezra was very learned when it came to God’s law. That lets us know that, even in exile, there was a Jewish community that was still learning and studying God’s Word. Besides studying the Law, the text says that Ezra was one who observed and followed it as well. It’s one thing to know God’s Word; it’s another thing to actually obey it.
Towards the end of the chapter, we read about how the Persian king had granted Ezra the authority over the Jews in that region. The king no doubt wanted to ensure peace but he also wanted to be sure that the Jewish residents were following Persian law.
What I find fascinating in this text is the trust that the king has in Ezra. His wisdom and integrity must have preceded him, or maybe the king knew Ezra personally. We don’t really have the details. But it reminds me of Joseph, who was trusted by the Egyptian Pharoah and given great authority over the land and the people. God, at times, opens up doors so his people are put in very strategic places to ensure that God’s purpose will be accomplished. Both Ezra and Joseph were working in secular (really pagan) settings; God very intentionally placed them there.
Fast forward to today. Our culture is clearly secular. What openings has God provided for you to achieve HIS greater purpose in secular settings? Might God be placing you in specific roles in order to expand his Kingdom? How might God be calling you to point people to Jesus in your neighborhood, at work, on an association board, at the grocery store, or on the golf course?
Let’s pray…Lord, Give us the courage to point people to you in all kinds of settings. Open our eyes so that we can see when you would have us speak up for you. More of you and less of me, Jesus. Amen.
Ezra 6
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Ezra 6:16-18, Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy. For the dedication of this house of God they offered a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred male lambs and, as a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, one for each of the tribes of Israel. And they installed the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their groups for the service of God at Jerusalem, according to what is written in the Book of Moses.
The decree from King Cyrus was found in the royal archives and sure enough, it was clear that Cyrus had given permission and resources for the Jewish people to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. King Darius wrote back stating that the Jews were to be left alone in the building, no more obstacles, and that their expenses were to be paid from the royal treasury! Wow! God is pretty amazing.
Thus, work resumed on the Temple until it was complete. When they finished, there was a big celebration. They dedicated the house of God with many animal sacrifices, by properly installing the priests, and then celebrating Passover with one another.
This got me thinking about celebrations. How important it is for us to celebrate together as a people of God. We need times of fellowship and joy as a way to remind one another of the amazing work of our God. In the midst of everyday tasks and the struggles of daily life, we forget. We have short memories. Friends, we need to celebrate. We need to come together, to laugh, to dine, to say, “Our God is so good!” Honestly, I don’t think we celebrate enough. We need to work these experiences into the rhythm of church.
One future celebration that is planned is our Gratitude Feast on November 13. On this Sunday, we will come together for a single service (both English-speaking services and the Spanish-speaking service) at 10am. After worship, we will have a celebration on the lawn, with lots of food, games, and fellowship. This will be a time in which we can remind each other, “Our God is so good!” I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to it!
Let’s pray…Lord, Thank you for the way you are at work in the world and in our lives. We thank you and give you glory and praise. Help us remember and celebrate the work of your hands. In Your Name, Amen.
Ezra 5
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Ezra 5:11-16, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished. But because our ancestors angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.
“However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God. He even removed from the temple of Babylon the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple in Babylon. Then King Cyrus gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor, and he told him, ‘Take these articles and go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem. And rebuild the house of God on its site.’
“So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. From that day to the present it has been under construction but is not yet finished.”
Work on the temple had been delayed (due to the opposition we talked about yesterday) for about sixteen years. Now, it was time to get back to work, time for a new beginning. However, the restarting of construction arouses suspicion among the pagan politicians of the area. Thus, they inquire of the Jews about the building project. As our focus verses for today illustrate, the Jewish leaders quite eloquently laid out a brief history of the temple, why it was destroyed, and why they were rebuilding.
But the governor of the area is determined to get to the bottom of the situation. He actually sends a letter to the king to verify that Cyrus really did give permission for this work to take place. But we see God’s hand of intervention here. The governor does not stop the work, he allows it to go on as they are waiting to hear back. Keep in mind, it could take five or six months to simply receive a reply. The Jewish people are faithful, they keep working hard on the temple, unsure of what the king’s answer will be. Ultimately, they trust God. They forge ahead, trusting that God is the one who has authority over every human king and governor. The Lord of all will ensure that HIS will is done.
Let’s pray…Lord, You have authority over all things. If you call us to do something, then we will have faith that you will see us through. In Your Name, Amen.
Ezra 4
New Hope Daily SOAP: Ezra 4
Pastor Vicki Harrison
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Ezra 4:4-5, Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Work on the temple has begun and there is much opposition. The chapter begins with the enemies of God’s people saying they wanted to help with the building. But their motives were not genuine. They may have acknowledged the Lord God but they also worshiped many other gods. Zerubabbel, Joshua, and the heads of the other families declined their offer of “help.” Then, the enemies of God’s people began to do all they could to discourage the building of the temple. The rest of the chapter lists the many ways, under several different kings, that the people tried to thwart the temple progress.
Whenever spiritual work is being done, wherever God’s Kingdom is being advanced, there will be opposition. That is guaranteed! The enemy likes nothing better than to try to stop the forward progress of God and his people. But God is faithful, powerful, and will always prevail! Maybe you are going through a spiritual battle right now; I think many of us are. Keep in mind that opposition is inevitable but discouragement is not. God is with us, friends.
Let’s pray…Almighty God, Thank you for being sovereign and true. When there is opposition to your work in this world, help us stay strong and forge ahead. More of you and less of me, Jesus. Amen.
Ezra 3
Welcome to the Daily SOAP from New Hope. This is Michael Heaton, your guest host for today. We will be reading from Ezra Chapter 3 and will be focusing on verses 8- 13. If you have not already done so, please take the time to read the entire chapter to get the full context. I will be reading from the NIV version of the bible.
Today in our passage we are going to learn that building God’s kingdom is a group effort. It is not built by one or two exceptionally gifted people. Every single believer has a role to play. Every single believer is to be a worker in God’s kingdom.
Ezra 3:8-13
8 In the second month of the second year after their arrival at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak and the rest of the people (the priests and the Levites and all who had returned from the captivity to Jerusalem) began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years old and older to supervise the building of the house of the Lord. 9 Joshua and his sons and brothers and Kadmiel and his sons (descendants of Hodaviah[a]) and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers—all Levites—joined together in supervising those working on the house of God.
10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel. 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord:
“He is good;
his love toward Israel endures forever.”
And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.
So, what does this mean? What can you take away from this scripture? How can I apply this in my life today?
Application 1. Leaders don’t try to do everything yourselves.
I know for my self that I sometimes get caught in this trap that I can do the task better and that it requires more work to teach someone how to do it. This may be true in the short term but a parent or leader who tries to do everything themselves will burn out and you won’t finish the project. On the front side it does take effort to train up someone but in the long term it is necessary to grow the kingdom. Jesus was a great teacher and yet he did not do everything on his own. He trained his disciples and sent them out in pairs. His own ministry lasted three years but he equipped his disciples to go out even when he was gone. Whether you are a parent, a life group leader, an evangelist, a disciple maker, or a leader in your ministry, you should seek to equip those around you for the work. Through this way God’s kingdom can multiply.
From our scripture reading we get the sense that there was a large-scale involvement. There was an atmosphere of expectancy. that God was working and would honor their commitment. We get an intense sense that no-one was sitting on the sidelines; everyone played a part as he or she was able. It wasn’t a spectator sport; with a few players on the field and everyone else in a comfortable seat observing. Some people were “at the front”; others were “behind the scenes”, but they were all involved in the same endeavor.
This leads into Application 2 which is help your leaders by joining the work. Over 40.000 people came back with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem. Not all were masons or carpenters, but they all worked on the rebuilding of the temple. The person serving in the background is just as important as the people up on the stage. It is not about us or our glory. We are a team. There are so many people serving that we might not even know or see. But God knows. God knows and appreciates each one. Whatever you do for Him counts and even if know one else sees, God sees.
Whatever your gifting is, if you are using it to build God’s kingdom, know that it is not in vain.
And if you are not actively building God’s kingdom, I want to encourage you to join the roster of kingdom workers today. And if you are using the excuse that I do not know what my gift is I can tell you a secret. The secret of finding out your gifting is simple. Start working on God’s kingdom. If a person is not working for Gods kingdom no one can possibly tell what they would be good at working at.
Let us pray
Thank you, Lord for the Old Testament leaders and their examples of service. May we as leaders have wisdom and discernment as we lead. We pray that our hearts would be directed first to you, and that we would recognize where our true help and strength come from. Help us all to have a spirit of wanting to help our leaders. We ask that you continue to pave the way for strong, faithful men and women to serve your people. We ask you for the outpouring of your Spirit to raise up those you’ve chosen to lead. We serve you with Joy.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Ezra 1
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Ezra 1:5, Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.
In the year 538 B.C., King Cyrus of Persia issued a royal decree that the people of Judah could return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple. Unlike the Assyrians and Babylonians before him, Cyrus was known for allowing displaced people groups to go home. He would even send them with the idols that had been stolen by the Babylonians. Since the Jews had no idols, the people were sent with the items found in the Temple.
It was the prophet Jeremiah that declared that the exile would only be for a period of time, specifically seventy years. God had a bigger plan of redemption for his people, no matter how wayward they had become. Remember Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” We often see this verse on graduation cards and coffee mugs, but the meaning is far from what we think. God did have a plan for his people and he did have a hopeful future in mind, but first they had to endure a long exile, as a consequence for their repeated disobedience.
But in God’s mercy, it was now time for a new beginning for God’s beloved people. It was God himself who moved Cyrus to allow the Jews to return. Now, it’s important to remember that the Jewish people had been living in Babylon (later called Persia) for almost seventy years. They had settled down, they had jobs, probably intermarried, and established themselves in the local communities. Thus, not everyone returned to Jerusalem. The Scripture says that God moved the hearts of the leaders, the priests, and the Levites. A remnant of people would return, not because they were homesick, but because they were focused on God’s will and purpose. Those who packed everything up and left for their homeland would have done so because they heard God’s call and made a decision to be obedient.
How often have you heard God’s call in your life? Have you been obedient?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We know that you call us in little things and big things. Help us listen and pay attention to your voice. Give us the courage to be obedient and follow your will. Lord, how often we push away your promptings out of fear or inconvenience. God, help us be the people you have called us to be and live into your purpose for our life. In Your Name, Amen.
Ezra 2
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Ezra 2:64-67, The whole company numbered 42,360, besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 200 male and female singers. They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
The second chapter of Ezra is one we all might be tempted to skip over. It’s a very specific list of the number of men from each village and family group who returned to settle in the land of Judah. For each male who settled, you could estimate at least one female and several children. The focus verses for today sum up the total: over 40,000 (and their families) plus over 7,000 slaves, 200 singers, plus the livestock they brought with them.
To God, each individual and each family has significance. Each person represents a real family, with crying children, ornery teenagers, sick parents, and probably many other dynamics. This move was a sacrifice. They didn’t know what they were walking into, but they knew why they were walking into it.
Sometimes God calls us into the unknown. It requires faith and trust to step into that next thing.
Let’s pray…Lord, I want to boldly step into whatever it is you call me to. Help me make a decision to trust. More of you, less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
Revelation 22
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Revelation 22:1-5, Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
In this last chapter of Revelation, we find another metaphor for the new creation. It is the river of life, crystal clear and flanked on each side by the tree of life, which provides abundant fruit. The number twelve represents the sufficiency of these fruit, they will provide nourishment to God’s people for ever and ever and ever. The leaves of the tree are like medicine, providing healing to the nations. These beautiful images immediately remind the reader of the original Garden, Eden, the way the Lord intended his world before the fall. Human beings will find their ultimate purpose and will live without suffering, but rather total contentment and satisfaction, something that could never be achieved before the curse.
As we finish up the book of Revelation, and John’s visions conclude, we are reminded of the choice we have. Do we want to take up residence in the Babylon of today, in those things the world promises, OR do we want to seek a life characterized by holiness, pursuing God, and ultimately residing with him in the perfect city, the new Jerusalem, the city created and sustained by God? The book continually reminds us that the choice is ours.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Help us be a church ready for you. Help us be a people ready for you. Reveal to us those ways in which we fall short. We seek holiness, Lord Jesus, we long for it. Guide us, direct us, and motivate us to do what we need to do to be the people you call us to be. May we resist the temptation of Babylon and turn our faces fully and completely toward you. In Your Name, Amen.
Revelation 21
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Revelation 21:1-5, Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
John’s final vision is that the redemption of creation is now complete. The old earth and creation, that which was broken and sinful, has passed away and a new earth has come. Finally. This is what we have been waiting for. God’s people reside in this new earth. There is no more populace simply mechanically following the ways of the world. There is passion. God’s people dwell with the Almighty himself, his glory fully revealed. And now, there will be no moretears, suffering, or loss. All is new, all is healed, and all is redeemed.
Then, there is a description of God’s Holy City. Please be sure to read through this beautiful vision. This city is a place of perfect worship, where humanity is not seeking achievement but rather exists to worship God in the presence of God. God’s Kingdom is fully revealed and it is incredible.
I have a seminary professor who used to tell us that our lives, as believers, are intended to be a preview to the world of the perfect world to come. So very convicting! If someone were to look at your life, what might they deduce about God’s perfect world to come?
Let’s pray…Come, Lord Jesus, come. Help us be a people and a church ready for you. In our desire to be ready, help us also be a demonstration of your Kingdom to an unbelieving world. Lord, reveal to us how we need to change and what we need to do in order to be the people you called us to be. Amen.
Revelation 20
SOAP for Friday, August 12, 2022
Hello, this is Paul Lancaster, your guest host for today’s SOAP from New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida for Friday, August 12, 2022:
Our scripture reading today is from Revelation 20 verses 11-15. I will be reading from the ESV version. As always, we recommend you read the entire chapter of Revelation 20 to receive other thoughts and revelations (no pun intended) from God.
Scripture: Revelation 20:11-15:
Judgment Before the Great White Throne
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Observation: At the judgment, the books will be opened. The Book of Life contains the names of those who have put their trust in Christ to save them. We as Christians should not look at this judgment with trepidation and fear. It will be the most glorious experience ever for all Christ followers!
Those whose name is not found in this book of life, will be thrown into the lake of fire (see Rev. 13:8 and 17:8). The lake of fire is the final destination of everything wicked—Satan, the beast, the false prophet, the demons, death, Hades and all of those who did not put their faith in Jesus Christ. John’s vision does not permit any gray areas in God’s judgment. If by faith we have not identified with Jesus Christ, confessing Him as Lord and Savior, there will be no hope, no second chance, and no appeal.
These books also contain the recorded deeds of everyone, good or evil. Everyone’s life will be reviewed and evaluated. No one is saved by deeds, but deeds are seen as clear evidence of a person’s actual relationship with God. Jesus will look at how we handled gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities. God’s gracious gift of salvation does not free us from the requirement of faithful obedience and service. Each of us must serve Christ in the best way we know and live each day knowing the books will one day be opened.
Application: So what do we do until our judgment day? We should:
Walk submissively—One of the most important themes of the Bible is obedience. We are to walk submissively according to God’s Word.
Worship Triumphantly—It means that we grab hold of the truth of God’s Word and give it back to God in our worship.
Witness Urgently—Evangelism will one day cease but not yet! One major purpose of Revelation is to remind sinners that eternal judgment is coming and to stimulate believers to share the Good News of redemption in Jesus’ name.
Work Fervently—We should remind ourselves that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Watch Expectantly—We do not know when the Lord is coming back to this earth. The requirement for salvation is to take freely what God offers us. He offers us life. He offers us joy. He offers us abundance. He offers us His only Son!
He could come today! Are you ready?
Prayer: God, you have given us so much— our families and friends, life in the USA, a loving church family with pastors who passionately teach Your Word. Most of all, you have given us Jesus Christ, as our Savior and Lord and our only eternal hope. Holy Spirit, help us to spread His love to others who need to hear it before it is too late. Amen.
Revelation 19
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Revelation 19:19-21, Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
In this chapter, John sees heaven standing open. Just for reference, the word apocalypse means “a revealing,” and it’s root has to do with this concept of being open. If you think about the whole book of Revelation, it’s about open doors, open seals, open scrolls, open books, open temple, and even an open abyss. Now, heaven is open and God allows his people to see. There are no secrets.
With the destruction of Babylon, the heavenly one, Jesus himself, comes riding in on a white horse. He is called Faithful and True. While some may struggle to see Jesus come ready for battle, this war has an eternal purpose and is done for true justice to occur. These images of Jesus are clearly war-like. He has come to kill the beast and those who follow him and throw them into the lake of fire. Evil is being vanquished. Finally.
Let’s pray…Come, Lord Jesus, come. Come and put an end to evil and misery. We are so broken and our world is a mess. How we need you. Come, Lord Jesus. Help us be a people ready for you. In your name, Amen.
Revelation 18
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Revelation 18:10, Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry:
“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,
you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour your doom has come!’
In this chapter, we see the fall of Babylon. This sprawling, affluent civilization, which lived hedonistically, rejecting the things of God and oppressing God’s people, has been brought to its knees. What took many years to develop is destroyed in one hour. In one single hour God takes down Babylon!
Chapters 17 and 18 which describe the fall of Babylon are some of the most disputed in all of Revelation. Scholars disagree as to their meaning and there are vastly divergent interpretations out there. I don’t think it’s helpful to get too bogged down in the interpretation. I do, however, think there are some things we must reflect on:
1. What could Babylon represent?
2. How does our current nation and culture resemble Babylon? How is it different?
3. How might God’s people be called to live and behave within a modern Babylon?
4. What does this Scripture suggest about God’s ultimate plans for the Babylons of this world?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We need you. Our world is a mess. It’s broken and we are broken. Give us wisdom and courage to live as your people within a world that rejects you. Help us point people to you. Help us, Jesus. More of you and less of me. Amen.
Revelation 17
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Revelation 17:3-6, Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. The name written on her forehead was a mystery:
babylon the great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.
I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.
In this chapter, John is invited to witness the downfall of Babylon. He sees the image of a woman sitting on red beast with seven heads and ten horns. The woman, very seductively dressed, has a name written on her: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes, and of the Abominations of the Earth. She slept with the kings of the world and was drunk with the blood of God’s people.
Babylon was a seductive society and a very powerful one. It conquered many of the nations around it and others were seduced by its influence and wealth. While the woman in the vision obviously represents Babylon, it goes so much deeper. How many Babylons have existed since then? How many great civilizations have risen to power, only to reject God and serve themselves? We could probably generate a pretty long list: the Roman Empire, the Holy Roman Catholic Church, various European empires, maybe even the United States of America?
Where do you see the evils of Babylon around you? How should we respond as God’s people?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We live in a world surrounded by Babylon. Give us the courage to resist worldly temptation but also to not seclude ourselves. Help us be in the world but not of it. Help us to demonstrate love and grace, just as you did. We need you. More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
Revelation 16
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Revelation 16:15, “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
It’s getting ugly. God has assured his people that they are safe but really no one else is. God’s wrath is about to be poured out on those who were marked by the beast, aka the evil one.
Throughout the chapter, we read about the cups of God’s wrath being poured out. I don’t know about you, but I find it very hard to read. While I don’t think these images in Revelation are meant to all be taken literally, we do have to come to terms with the fact that Jesus will return and he will judge us. Those who belong to him will be safe and protected. Those who don’t belong to him will face the wrath of God. Will that mean boils and fire? Probably not, but these cups of wrath do represent something real, something we don’t understand.
Our focus verse for today is interesting. Think back to the teachings of Jesus. Matthew 24:42-44, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Jesus, in his earthly ministry, made many references to being ready for the coming reign of God. As much as it makes us feel uncomfortable, he also spoke of being ready for the coming judgment. Notice how now, in Rev. 16:15, the resurrected Lord is saying that he will come like a thief; blessed is the one who stays awake and remain clothed.
I think we need to stop and reflect on this issue of being ready. Some people may say that we’ve been waiting for Jesus so long, he will never come. But the Bible clearly says he will. Certainly, we aren’t to sit around and be scared, nor are we to watch the clouds and wait (as many of the early Christians did.) We are to simply do life, expanding his Kingdom, living as he called us to live. But there is something to this whole idea of readiness. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Spend some time in prayer about this today.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Help us be ready for you. Hear our prayers…
Revelation 15
REVELATIONS 15: 1
“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: Seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.”
Chapter 15 introduces the 7 bowls of wrath which are the worst of the seven plagues. God is about to wound the earth for the last time before the final judgment. Each bowl of judgments will come in a rapid-fire, staccato fashion, and each one worse in intensity and this will end the 7 year Tribulation period.
Right now the reality is our world is not in a good place. However, what is fearful, frightening and serious about the future is really nothing that man will do, but it is what God will do. It is the final destiny of the soul and humankind and then the wrath of God that ends human history that is on the horizon.
If we go back to the initial introduction of the oldest part of the Old Testament and trek our way throughout the inevitable coming wrath of God, there is a strange paradox. That strange paradox is this: All the way through the expression of God’s wrath up until His ultimate final and eternal wrath, God is busily working to save sinners from His own wrath.
He is always calling people to be delivered from the wrath which He himself will inflict. In fact, as wrath escalates in the period of the time called the tribulation, evangelism escalates as well. AND you have the greatest harvest of souls in human history.
Therein lies the marvelous reality of the nature of God that encompasses both righteousness and holiness alongside mercy and grace that makes justice and judgment the twin of love and kindness.
Let us pray: Lord, we pray You will help us live in the light of this reality and to do those things which will bring people to the knowledge of Christ before the end days. We thank You that You saved us from the wrath to come and we give You praise in Christ’s name. Amen and Amen.